Project description
More durable, cheaper fuel cell technology
The EU-funded RealHyFC project aims to overcome hurdles preventing the wide adoption of proton-exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) in heavy-duty applications, primarily trucks, with spillover positive effects expected for ships, trains, and aircraft. Involving key actors of the PEMFC value chain, RealHyFC will focus on improving the reliability and versatility of fuel cell stacks through advancements in stack design and operation. Project activities include investigating carbon and metallic materials to improve stack efficiency, lifetime, degradation and mechanical properties. RealHyFC will also introduce new solutions for stack diagnostics and monitoring to optimise fuel cell operating conditions. Project outcomes will pave the way for developing cost-competitive, reliable, and durable fuel cell technology.
Objective
RealHyFC gathers key actors of the whole PEMFC value chain to overcome crucial hurdles towards industrial empowerment on heavy-duty (HD) applications, mainly for land transport while expecting benefits for ships, trains or aircrafts.
The technical issues precluding a rapid and wide adoption of PEMFC on HD applications are linked with reliability and versatility of the stacks. RealHyFC will bring knowledge and experimental feedback on two key levels: stack design and stack operation. Regarding stack design, carbon and metallic technologies will be investigated on efficiency and lifetime issues, local degradation and mechanical properties. Unpreceded direct comparison will be possible thanks to the adaption of an open-design made for metal to carbon-composite case, with developments on bipolar plates and balance of stack.
RealHyFC will eventually deliver a public open-design platform with demonstrated high efficiency and durability under HD application conditions.
For long-lasting operation, the diagnostics and monitoring of stacks are crucial to preclude damages on performance or components: RealHyFC will bring new solutions based on improved physical degradation models allowing to develop virtual sensors algorithms to optimize fuel cell operating conditions and hybridization strategy. Final validation, by demonstration of lifetime improvements thanks to an adjusted control chain, will be done following system-representative simulation and experimental approaches towards durability-oriented operation in HD environment.
The outcomes of the project are strongly linked with the industrial world and settings carrying relevant PEMFC use. RealHyFC will enable the development of cost-competitive, reliable and durable fuel cell technology. To this extend, an exploitation strategy will foster industrial empowerment, alongside dissemination and communication towards technical audience and large public.
Fields of science
Programme(s)
- HORIZON.2.5 - Climate, Energy and Mobility Main Programme
Funding Scheme
HORIZON-JU-RIA - HORIZON JU Research and Innovation ActionsCoordinator
75015 PARIS 15
France